Southern standard. (McMinnville, Tenn.) 1879-current, 1887-05-14
Lack of Interest in Farming.

Cor. National Live Stock Journal
That there is too great lack OF
interest in their business among
farmers is evident to any one famil-
lar with thefarmer's trend of thought
in this age. The best evidence of
this apathy is manifest in the meagre
number of patrons of agricultural and
stock papers found among them. 1t
is not unusual to find a farmer with
$4,000 and upwards invested in
land and stock who is entirely desti-
tute of any professional literature,
except the stray paragraphs of polit'
ical papers, and of course there is a
much larger number of men of very
moderate means who are quite as
derelict in this respect.
This communication is not meant
to be a lecture to this class of people,
for they, alas, would never see it.
1t is desirable, however, that every
one who reads this should raise the
question whether he is not in some
degree responsible for this state of
affairs. There are a few men in
every community who read and en-
deavor to keep pace with the times.
Their less systematic neighbors, who
observe the superiority of their work
as well as of their crops, stock, and
surroundings generally, come to
them, as it were, as pupils in the
olden-time country school, with the
old blue-back " spelling book in
hand, in substance saying, " teacher,
please pronounce for me-" Now,
the modern days schools have made
a great stride in advance of this
olden time, indolent, and dependent
style of work. The modern teacher,
instead of neglecting her work pro.
per to answer such questions or re.
quests, simply refers all who are able
to read to the dictionary for theil
information. AS further matter Of
economy, it is suggested that posses
sion of a school dictionary, kept
always at hand, would be more salts
factory than the consultation al
"long range" With a little advice
as to the advantages, and also regard
ing the wonderful resources of a die
tionary, and with a teachers sug
gestions in reference to the bes
method of using it, this proves al
"open door" indeed to much inform
alton. With the students progress
in study, how grand the world seems
Cyclopedias, maps, gazetteers, refer
ence books, ETC., open new avenue
to the unknown eXpanse of delightful
truths. Then how grateful, too, il
the student enlightened for the clear
ness of his intellectual vision. Nor
especially is one to be congratulated
who has thus learned how to be indie
pendent, in a great measure.
OF course the smile is not a per
feet one for the question in hand, bu
it points in the right direction. TIL
progressive farmer is the older Iii
knowledge brother, and owes it t
the calling to make his associate
more independent and to place Their
in the proper cause, which wi
insure their material elevation. Thi
arrived at, the advance all along tn
line reacts as well to the advantag
Of the tutor for time. But the task
in the majority of cases, is a delicat
one, and in case Of the sensitive Ones
they must be handled with gres
tact. Phe loaning Of a paper, wit
the Incidental suggestion that we ca
not well get along without it, he
weight. Presenting young farmt
with work on agriculture, or a p,
riodical for "a time, calling upon hin
ut his home and discussing question
with which he is familiar, and j
short, by making use Of farmer
clubs, alliances, institutes, ETC., "
may make thinking and observir
men of a portion of those who no
are groveling blindly for great
light. In so doing we shall have C
laborers, instead of knights Of lab,
agitators, in our midst.
Our Familiar Sayings.